State of Kanawha
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Kanawha was an American state formed on October 24, 1861. It consisted of most of the northwestern counties of Virginia, which decided to become separated after Virginia joined the Confederate States of America on April 17, 1861 at the beginning of the American Civil War (1861–1865). The separation had been approved by the loyalist Reorganized Government of Virginia on August 20, 1861. Using precedent from States before them that chose a prominent or important river as their name, the State was named after the Kanawha River.
During the First Constitutional Convention, on December 3, 1861, Harmon Sinsel, of Taylor County, made a motion to strike the word Kanawha from the State Constitution. The discussion regarding the motion revealed concerns of possible confusion between the State of Kanawha and the County of Kanawha within the same State. Additionally, there was an expressed desire among the Convention members to reflect their Virginian heritage. After much debate, the motion passed 30-14 and a new name was sought.
During the subsequent discussion, where names such as "Allegheny", "Augusta", "Columbia", "New Virginia", "Vandalia", "West Virginia" and "Western Virginia" were suggested, it was decided that roll would be called and each member of the Convention would answer their name with their preferred name for the new State. If one of the names reached a majority vote, it would be selected as the new name for the State. Upon vote, 30 of the 44 members had selected "West Virginia". Having reached a majority, the name for the new State officially became West Virginia.
About eighteen months later, West Virginia was formally admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863.
